RPTV (TV channel)

RPTV is a Philippine free-to-air television network jointly owned and operated by TV5 Network, Inc. and Nine Media Corporation, together with Radio Philippines Network (RPN) as its free-to-air broadcaster. RPTV is formed under a content distribution, sales and marketing agreement between TV5, with its parent MediaQuest Holdings, and Nine Media, with the former providing programming and other related services to the latter through its existing airtime lease agreement with RPN.

RPTV's local programming and master control originates from the TV5 Media Center, Reliance corner Sheridan Streets, in Mandaluyong, while it maintains its relay technical facilities at the Worldwide Corporate Center, Shaw Boulevard corner EDSA, also in Mandaluyong. The relay facility is the primary feed received by RPN transmitters and pay television providers, as well as DTH satellite providers such as MediaQuest-owned Cignal TV. It operates daily from 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight PHT and goes off-air annually during Holy Week from Maundy Thursday to Black Saturday.

RPTV was launched on February 1, 2024, replacing CNN Philippines in its channel space, following the termination of brand licensing agreement between Nine Media and CNN (under its parent company Warner Bros. Discovery) and the channel's subsequent closure on January 31.

History
Prior to the launch, on December 22, 2023, TV5 Network entered into an acquired agreement with Nine Media Corporation to broadcast the Philippines' longest-running noontime variety and entertainment show Eat Bulaga! and select games from the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) every Saturday and Sunday on CNN Philippines starting January 6, 2024. This marks the return of the two programs previously aired on RPN.

On January 29, 2024, CNN Philippines confirmed that it has ceased live news productions effective immediately, and to be shut down entirely on January 31, citing financial losses. In a separate statement, Nine Media president Benjamin Ramos announced that the affected employees were given their severance package and their salary for the whole month of February.

On January 31, 2024, a day before the launch, TV5 Network took over RPN-9's airtime after CNN Philippines officially signed off at 10:00 p.m. It conducted a test broadcast featuring the unveiling of its replacement channel - RPTV. The takeover was later announced on TV5's late-night newscast Frontline Tonight. However, it was only on February 6 at the TV5 Media Center that MediaQuest, TV5 and Nine Media formally signed a memorandum of agreement for the content distribution, sales and marketing aspects of RPTV, with RPN maintaining the license and transmission operations for the said network (due to current ownership restrictions requiring only one station per franchise holder in a specific media market).

On February 1, 2024, RPTV made its first broadcast at 6:00 a.m., with Ted Failon at DJ Chacha sa Radyo5 as its first program. At the same time, RPTV (through a mirror feed), replaced One PH as a DTT subchannel across TV5 O&Os and Mediascape-owned affiliates, though the latter remains available on Cignal and other cable and satellite providers.

RPTV, along with One Sports, is the closest competitor of GMA Network's sister channel, GTV that surpassed the number 3 slot among the TV ratings as of April 14, 2024.

Programming
RPTV programming consists of simulcast and reruns of select programs from TV5 and its sister channel One PH, as well as other channels owned by its cable provider Cignal TV, including Eat Bulaga! and games from the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) which were formerly aired on the former RPN channel throughout the network's history. The network also carries reruns of current affairs programs from its predecessor CNN Philippines, which is now handled by Nine Media's parent Broadreach Media through NewsWatch Plus.

The One PH programs on RPTV serves as a return of airing some programs from 92.3 Radyo5 True FM, five years since the closure of news and sports channel AksyonTV.

Availability
RPTV is seen on RPN's flagship station DZKB-TV, channel 9 in Metro Manila, and among seven regional VHF TV stations; it is also available via TV5's DTT signal on UHF channel 18 in most major cities, as well as Mediascape-owned DTT affiliates.

Initially, upon launch, the channel was exclusively available in high-definition over-the-air via RPN's digital UHF channel 19 in Metro Manila. On March 14, 2024, through its social media channels, Cignal TV announced that RPTV, alongside sister sports channel One Sports, would be available in the HD format. The HD feed of RPTV was launched the following day.

RPN transmitters outside Manila are also in the process of launching DTT services for RPTV, with Baguio City as its first provincial DTT outlet that began in May 2024.